All Business For Sale Categories

One of the largest employment sectors in the United States, accommodation and food Services is technically a sub-sector of leisure and hospitality. From food trucks and independent motels to luxury hotels and restaurants, the sector is customer service oriented. Owners with capital need not be involved directly in running the business, but for those with limited funds or little industry experience, owning a business in this sector is demanding. The cost of purchasing a business in this sector is variable, ranging anywhere from a few thousand dollars to well over a million.

This sector is a branch of manufacturing and trade that focuses on the growing and harvesting of organic — i.e., living — commodities. Businesses range from large-scale factory farms and fisheries to bee keeping operations, orchards, logging operations, and commercial hunting and trapping. Profitability depends largely on one's choice of commodity; plants or animals that are inexpensive to raise but are in high demand, such as microgreens, are potentially more lucrative, as are government subsidized monocrops.

This wide-ranging sector includes museums, sporting facilities, athletic service providers, public relations firms, performers, producers, and establishments devoted to producing and hosting live performances. Gambling facilities and their employees are also classified within this sector. Businesses for sale range from inexpensive after school art workshops to multi-million dollar wedding venues and production companies. Regulation in this sector varies, depending on whether food and alcoholic beverages are served, crowd size, and other factors.

Professional and Business Services is the umbrella category for three different sub-sectors: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services; Management of Companies and Enterprises; and Adminstrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services. Management analysts and other managers, software developers, judicial workers, and accountants account for the highest percentage of workers. Most of this sector faces strict government regulation. The price of purchasing a business here is higher than average, but profitability is also high.

The rate of growth in this sector is predicted to be 0.8 through 2028.

The construction sector includes building construction, engineering projects, site preparation, and subdivision. It can involve new construction, renovation, additions, maintenance, and repair. Within this sector is a wide range of business types, from sole proprietorships and specialized trades to national companies working on federal and state government contracts. Areas within this sector are heavily regulated, but union membership overall is declining. The cost of buying an established business in this sector is higher than average, though construction tends to more profitable than many other sectors.

Educational services is one of the faster growing industry sectors in the United States, poised to add more than a million more jobs by 2028. It includes both both public and private institutions of learning, as well as online and distance learning, preparatory courses, tutoring, preschools, and professional training. Licensing and regulation vary within this industry sector, and operating costs can be low, especially for virtual businesses. Lucrative entry niches within this sector include afterschool enrichment programs and professional training courses.

Finance and insurance is a subsector of the larger financial activities supersector. Businesses within this sector include banks, credit unions, brokerage firms, financial managers and advisors, insurance agencies, and tax preparation services. ATM routes and check cashing businesses are affordable avenues into this sector; independent insurance companies and financial advisor services tend to be more expensive. This is a highly regulated sector with few unionized employees. Profit margins, especially at larger corporate firms, can run extremely high.

Health care and social assistance is one of the fastest growing sectors in the United States. Home health care aides, personal care aides, occupational therapy assistants, and nurse practitioners are especially in demand. Businesses for sale in this sector include weight loss clinics, medical and dental practices, and physical therapy offices. Most of the sector is regulated; state licenses and permits are required, especially when billing through Medicare and Medicaid. Home health care agencies provide affordable access to the sector and can be highly profitable.

The information and communications sector includes broadcasting, traditional and online publishing, software publishing, the motion picture industry, data processing, and information services. Three broad types of business establishment belong within this sector: distribution and production services; services that house the information; and data processing services. You'll need certifications for some industries, such as IT. SaaSes, blogs, and applications can offer an affordable and lucrative "in" to this sector for people with the skill to market them effectively.

The sector that built this country, manufacturing is the process by which substances or components are transformed into usable products. Estabishments where this process takes place include factories, mills plants, and — if the process takes place on a small enough scale — personal residences. Although the average cost to buy factory is high, independent businesses that produce a single product can be affordable while at the same time yielding impressive cash flow. One thing to consider: this sector bears some of the highest costs of regulatory compliance.

Mining, quarrying, oil and gas extraction is part of the natural resources and mining supersector. It includes the extraction of mineral solids (coal), liquids (crude petroleum), and gases (natural gas) as well as the beneficiating — i.e., activities designed to facilitate extraction on site. Owning a mining company is an inherently risky proposition, and concern over climate change is bound to lead to further regulations within the industry. Nevertheless, the rewards within this sector can be enormous.

The personal services sector houses people engaged in professions like matchmaking, pet care, landscaping, laundry and drycleaning, salon care, photofinishing, and death care services. Many established businesses can be acquired inexpensively, and some have no barriers to entry. How much time the new owner want to devote to running a business in this sector depends on whether they intend to be a service provider or simply manage the staff and business operations.

Real estate is part of the larger financial activities supersector. Industries in this subsector do one or more of the following — lease real estate to other parties; manage properties; buy, sell or rent real estate; conduct real estate appraisals; and broker real estate investment trusts (REITs). Small property management companies are inexpensive to purchase and can develop into relatively hands-off enterprises with strong cash flow. Short term rental management companies and real estate offices are other options, but you have both a broker's and sales license to operate the latter.

Real Estate Businesses: An Appreciation for Cash Flow

There were 356,103 private business establishments in this sector as of Q2, 2019.

Retail trade is one of the largest sectors in the United States economy; only services, the federal government, and health care employ more people. While ecommerce continues to grow at a faster rate, retail is predicted to adapt and thrive by catering to customer needs. One current trend for retail outlets is partnering with ecommerce brands so that consumers can see the product they want to purchase before committing. Another is using the physical location as a pick up and drop off site for online purchases and returns.

This sector includes the transportation of passengers and cargo —for both utilitarian and sightseeing purposes — as well as the storage of goods and products. The postal service, courier services, and pipeline transport all fall within this sector. The cost of purchasing a transportation and warehousing business varies widely, with regulations contingent on the type of transport and the cargo. This sector has a higher percentage of unionized members than most, but thanks to the ecommerce industry, it is predicted to grow at a faster rate.

The utilities sector is made up of establishments devoted to providing gas, electricity, water, and sewage removal services. The sector includes all processes that typically apply to utilities, including generation, distribution, treatment, and disposal. Water treatment and septic removal companies can be an affordable avenue into this sector. However, the industries expected to see the most growth over the coming decade provide the installation and maintenance of alternative energy sources.

Wholesale trade is the official name for a sector that spans the entire wholesale market, including distribution. Wholesalers act as the middlemen between the manufacturer and retailers who market and sell the product to customers. They purchase products for a lower cost and typically render no further service to them before they are resold. Wholesale products can be manufactured goods, agricultural products, mined substances, and the output of some information industries.